An overview of our Rescues and other Projects
All the rescues and projects below are set out in chronological order and the reports were written at the time of the rescue - times change, babies grow up so for day to day stories of the adventures of our babies please check John's Rambling Elephant Blog.
Nong Pleum : Plai Tawan : Outreach Programmes : Nong Dah : Poon Larb and Lynchee : Nam Chok & Pumpui : Adopt a Vet : Lamyai & Meena : Makam & Nam Khong : Moskva, Musa & Riga : Manau: Sakura
Pang Som Si (Lam Yai)
We first met Pang Som Si, her real name is Lam Yai after the Northern Thai fruit, in the Khao Kiew detention centre having been arrested by the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre's Elephant Rescue team, her crime was begging on the streets of Bangkok.
When the officers had come across her she was taking part in a drunken elephant show; for the amusement of the crowd, her mahout would feed her whisky.
During her time at the detention center the vet's educated her mahout and owner, Lung Pat, of the dangers of letting eles drink and eventually let them go once the legal term of their detention had been served.
Knowing no other way Lung Pat took her back out onto the streets, she was living behind the Rama IX hotel and spending her nights on Soi Nana off Sukhumvit when we caught up with her again.
When we did we were able to let Lung Pat know money had been provided by Mr Goetz Mundhenke, managing director of Finass Reisen in Switzerland, for their rescue.
Som Si is very small for her age and, though older than Nong Da and Nam Chok seems to have an affinity for Plai Tawan.
Finass Reisen have recently agreed to take on another young elephant, Meena bringing their total to two.
Pang Meena
I first met Meena on Soi Cowboy in the notorious red light district of Bangkok, I was there looking for elephants and keeping half a sneaky eye on the Springboks vs Fiji match.
As they were walking past I stopped Lung Lun, her owner, bought some of his sugarcane, as it seems odd to lecture someone about their ele in the midst of all that human frailty, I gave him my business card and let him know that if he ever needed a new life to get in touch.
He took the card and they both walked off into the neon filled night and the Springboks went on to win.
Recently though, the Government rescue teams and the police force in the Capital have started to become more active, Meena was caught four times and though not removed from the capital a 5,000 baht fine was levied and confiscation threatened if they were ever caught again.
Lung Lun got scared, found my card and made the call - for Meena it was a long time coming but it was worth the wait.
Meena & Lamyai get acquainted
Lamyai & Meena Links
